Madam, – I was a frontline worker in the child protection service at the time of Tracey Fay’s tragic death. I left my job because of the heartbreak of not succeeding in court to convince a judge that it was in a child’s best interest to enter the care system, despite my strong conviction based on evidence that this child’s physical and emotional needs were not being met.
This child was six months old and his mother, despite her good intentions, was unable to provide him with care. I cannot wait for the constitutional referendum that will highlight the importance of including the rights of the child as well as the rights of the parents in such circumstances.
Since as far back as the Kilkenny incest investigation report, this constitutional change has been recommended.
Research again and again points to the need for babies and young children to establish a secure attachment and it is only with such a base that children can grow to become independent and self-assured. If a secure attachment is not formed, it makes it much harder for a person to cope effectively with stress, and they will feel little confidence either in coping as an individual or in relying on others to help.
When Tracey Fay came into care system as an adolescent, she was already very vulnerable and maybe, in terms of what the care system could do, it was already too late for her.
That is not to say that all adolescents coming into care are entering the system too late. However, in terms of attachment, if attachments have not been established in the family unit, they will be very difficult to form in adolescence.
It has long been noted that the child protection service is underfunded and under-resourced.
However, a constitutional amendment to include the rights of the child would go some way towards supporting young children at risk who are unable to have their voice heard. I hope we don’t have to wait too much longer for this change to take place. – Yours, etc,